Nicholas Anthony "Nick" Robinson (born 5 October 1963) is a British journalist and political editor for the BBC.[1] Robinson was interested in politics from a young age, and went on to study a Philosophy, Politics, and Economics degree at Oxford University, where he was also President of the Oxford University Conservative Association. Starting out in broadcasting at Piccadilly Radio, after a year as President of the Conservative Party youth group, he worked his way up as a producer eventually becoming deputy editor of Panorama, before becoming a political correspondent in 1996. He became the BBC's chief political correspondent in 1999. Between 2002 and 2005 he worked for ITV News as political editor, but then returned to the BBC assuming the same role, which he has held since.

Noted for his confrontational and provocative approach, Robinson has on several occasions caused a stir with his style of questioning, particularly of world leaders such as George W. Bush. His history of Conservative affiliation has been controversial, particularly when allegations of bias were made during his coverage of the 2010 general election. He has presented a variety of programmes, including Westminster Live, Weekend Breakfast and Late Night Live on BBC Radio 5 Live, and Newsnight.

In 1982, while travelling in Europe, he survived a car crash in Lille, France, in which the car, a two-door Beetle, exploded and his friends James Nelson and Will Redhead (son of Brian Redhead, a journalist and co-presenter of Today on BBC Radio 4) were killed.[5] Robinson was "severely burned",[4] spent five weeks in hospital and had to defer his university place.[5] Brian Redhead became Robinson's mentor, and later encouraged his career in political journalism, giving him a copy of Tony Benn's Arguments for Socialism for his birthday. However, Robinson's early political affiliations were to the right.[4]

Conservative Party

Robinson was a founder member of MacclesfieldYoung Conservatives and rose through the ranks, becoming Cheshire Young Conservative Chairman (1982–84) and became a key activist in the moderate controlled North West Area organisation. National YC Chairman, Phil Pedley co-opted Robinson onto the Young Conservative National Advisory Committee in 1983 and appointed him National Campaign Director of Youth for Multilateral Disarmament. Robinson was elected National Vice Chairman in 1985-87 and succeeded fellow moderate, Richard Fuller, when he was elected Chairman of the National Young Conservatives on the moderate ticket against strong right-wing opposition (1987–88).[6]

Robinson's first position in broadcasting was at Piccadilly Radio in Manchester, which he took up while recovering from his injuries.[5] He joined the BBC in 1986 as a production trainee, and later worked extensively as a television and radio producer for a variety of shows including Newsround and Crimewatch. He then became an assistant producer for On the Record, and in 1993 was promoted to Deputy Editor of Panorama, a position he held for three years.[1] In 1995, while Robinson was at Panorama he wrote an internal BBC memorandum questioning how an interview with Prime Minister John Major could be defended in the run-up to the Scottish local elections. When leaked it gained attention from the Labour Party, who perceived it as the legitimised denial of equal time in the run up to local elections.[9]

In 1996 he became a political correspondent, presenting Weekend Breakfast and Late Night Live on BBC Radio 5 Live, and in 1997 he covered the general election for BBC Radio. In October 1999 he became BBC News 24's chief political correspondent, and also presented Westminster Live. In the run-up to the 2001 general election, Robinson started keeping a daily diary of the campaign. Entitled The Campaign Today, it later became Newslog,[1] and continued to be updated until Robinson left the BBC. When he returned in 2005 he began a new blog with the same name.[10]

In 2002, Robinson left the BBC for Independent Television News (ITN) as ITV News' political editor. Tom Bradby, who later succeeded him, described the appointment as "bold, imaginative and instantly successful".[1] Robinson stayed with ITN for three years, and caused a major stir early in the 2005 election campaign at the unveiling of a Labour Party poster. The poster claimed the Conservative Party would initiate cuts of £35 billion to public services if elected; Robinson challenged Prime Minister Tony Blair, claiming the poster was misleading,[11] which forced Blair to admit the £35 billion figure was "disingenuous".[1] Later on in the election campaign, Labour announced that Tony Blair would be making "the most important speech of the campaign" on immigration, with a specially invited audience. Robinson asked Blair why there were only white people in the audience, and Blair pointed out a single Asian man to disprove Robinson. Later, Robinson stated: "We know that the big two parties carefully select audiences to give a particular appearance. Is it a great controversy to point this out? That's informing the audience." On election night, Robinson joined presenters Jonathan Dimbleby and Alastair Stewart to reveal the results with political analysis.[11]

Robinson left ITN and was appointed as the BBC political editor in preference to fellow journalist Martha Kearney in August 2005, replacing Andrew Marr.[1]

Robinson continued his provocative approach to journalism, and on more than one occasion had run-ins with powerful politicians. During Tony Blair's visit to Israel in 2006 to discuss the Lebanon War, journalists were asked not to bring up the ongoing rift with Gordon Brown. Bradby, then the ITV political editor, asked a question on the subject but was told it was "disrespectful". Robinson then followed on the same topic, asking a difficult question on the feud between the Chancellor and Prime Minister. He was criticised for distracting from the main issue of the conference, but he argued that "I'm paid to ask questions ... particularly at a time when there are incredibly serious allegations ... I react very badly to organised attempts to stop journalists asking questions." Robinson later criticised Blair's announcement of his intention to stand down. He explained how he considered the setup "stage management", and how no journalists were allowed to ask questions.[4]

In December 2006 George W. Bush showed dissatisfaction when he asked him if he was in denial about the situation in Iraq (since the most Bush had said about the situation was that the increase in attacks was "unsettling"). Bush replied "It's bad in Iraq. Does that help?".[12] He had another run-in with Bush at a press conference at Camp David, when Bush asked him "you still hanging around?". He then suggested to Robinson, with reference to the heat, that "next time you should cover your bald head". As Bush walked away Robinson replied "I didn't know you cared", to which Bush responded "I don't". Robinson described his quip as a "fatal error" on his blog.[1] In a final encounter in 2008, Bush joked with Robinson about still not wearing his hat.[13]

Robinson continues to keep a blog on the BBC website, which discusses politics. His posts have occasionally caused controversy: on 5 May 2006 he said that when hearing of Charles Clarke's sacking in the 2006 Cabinet reshuffle, he was "naked in bed."[14] He later apologised, saying he was "merely trying to add authenticity. That's the naked truth."[15] This incident briefly earned him the nickname "Naked Nick".[1] Another post, dated 25 February 2008, criticised MPs defending Michael Martin against allegations of expenses misuse,[16] which caused controversy in parliament.[17]

Robinson has been criticised for allegedly reporting with a pro-Conservative bias. Alastair Campbell brought up his history of Conservative affiliations during an interview.[11] Bias was claimed particularly in the 2010 United Kingdom general election coverage; a Facebook group entitled "Nick Robinson should not be the BBC's political editor" was set up in August 2010.[22] In a 2005 interview with David Rowan, the UK editor of Wired News, he insisted "that his involvement [with the Conservatives] ceased twenty years ago".[11]

In October 2010 after a live news report outside Parliament, Robinson tore up an anti-war, anti-cuts placard that a protester had been waving behind him during the broadcast. After the incident the protester shouted "You should be ashamed of yourself, mate. You should be ashamed." at Robinson, to which he replied "I'm not remotely ashamed of myself. Why should I be ashamed of myself?".[23] He later wrote that he "regretted" losing his temper, but added that he regarded the protester's display of the sign as inappropriate.[24] Some days later, Robinson read out a jokily ambiguous "letter of apology" on Have I Got News For You?, broadcast on 4 November 2010.[25]

On 22 May 2013 edition of the BBC News at Six Robinson relayed the news that the fatal stabbing of an off-duty British soldier in London that afternoon was being treated by the government as a terrorist incident, but attracted criticism after quoting a source describing the perpetrators as being "of Muslim appearance". The BBC received 43 complaints about Robinson's use of the term, and he issued an apology on his BBC blog the following day.[26][27][28]

On 10 September 2014, as part of the coverage of the Scottish independence referendum, he disclosed on the BBC News at Ten that Lloyds and the Royal Bank of Scotland would be moving their registered offices from Scotland to London.[29] The following day, during a briefing to the international media, he was accused of heckling First MinisterAlex Salmond by Salmond himself.[30] Subsequently the BBC received complaints from viewers who felt that his report on the Scottish First Minister's press conference implied that Alex Salmond had not answered a question put to him. The corporation responded to the criticism: "The BBC considers that the questions were valid and the overall report balanced and impartial, in line with our editorial guidelines."[31] A march towards BBC Scotland headquarters was organised the next day in Glasgow, to protest against perceived media bias from the BBC, in which one banner read “Sack Nick ‘the liar’ Robinson. A totally corrupt journalist. These days typical of the British Biased Corporation.” Following this protest BBC bosses hired a bodyguard due to fears over Robinson's safety. [32]

Nick Robinson faced criticism on twitter after being pictured in a "selfie" with far-right Britain First candidate and deputy leader Jayda Fransen, at the Rochester and Strood by-election. Some users called on him to resign for what they called a "shameful" photograph. Robinson defended his actions on the grounds that he did not realise who Jayda Fransen was and told one of his critics to "grow up". He subsequently tweeted "Lesson of the day. Never agree to have selfie taken without first checking who's asking. Shame but my mistake."[33]

Robinson met his wife Pippa, a relationship counsellor, at university and they married in 1991. He has three children: Harry, Will and Alice.[5] He lives in North London, close to Arsenal's Emirates Stadium. He is a lifelong Manchester United fan, and enjoys sailing and the theatre.[1] Robinson is a fan of the rock band Queen; his ringtone of one of their songs interrupted a discussion during Daily Politics in 2014.[34]